Planning Permission in Kingston upon Thames

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is one of South West London’s most desirable and historically significant boroughs. Known for its riverside settings, conservation areas, village like neighbourhoods, and high quality suburban housing, Kingston blends heritage charm with modern family living. From the conservation areas of Kingston Old Town, Coombe, and Hampton Wick to the leafy neighbourhoods of Surbiton, New Malden, Chessington, and Norbiton, the borough offers homeowners excellent opportunities to extend, modernise, and reconfigure their homes. However, Kingston also has a structured and often stringent planning framework, meaning proposals must be carefully prepared to meet the council’s expectations around design, neighbour amenity, heritage protection, and environmental sensitivity.
Whether you’re planning a rear extension, loft conversion, garage conversion, outbuilding, or internal reconfiguration, Kingston requires proposals to be well designed, policy aligned, and sensitive to the borough’s suburban and heritage context.

Understanding Kingston’s Planning Environment

Kingston is known for its strong emphasis on design quality, suburban character, and heritage protection. The borough contains numerous conservation areas, including Kingston Old Town, Coombe House Estate, Fairfield/Knights Park, and parts of Surbiton. These areas are protected for their architectural and historic significance, meaning external alterations must preserve or enhance local character. Proposals affecting listed buildings or heritage streetscapes require careful justification and may need heritage statements.
Neighbour amenity is a major consideration in Kingston. Extensions must be designed to avoid harming daylight, sunlight, privacy, or the sense of openness enjoyed by neighbouring properties. The council uses clear amenity tests, including the 45 degree and 25 degree rules, to assess the impact of extensions on neighbouring windows and gardens. Even modest proposals may require detailed analysis, especially in terraced or semi detached streets.
Kingston is particularly known for its structured approach to rear extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings. Rear extensions — including wrap arounds and side returns — are common but must respect scale, materials, and the character of the host property. Loft conversions are widely accepted when designed sensitively, with dormers kept subordinate to the main roof. Roof terraces are especially sensitive due to privacy concerns.
Riverside areas near the Thames — including Kingston Riverside, Hampton Wick, and parts of Surbiton — are subject to additional flood risk and environmental controls. Properties in these zones may require flood risk assessments, resilient design measures, and careful consideration of materials and landscaping.
Sustainability is another key priority. Kingston encourages energy efficient design, sustainable materials, and proposals that reduce carbon impact. This can influence glazing choices, insulation, and the overall design approach.

What SMARTePLANS Provides

SMARTePLANS offers a comprehensive planning service tailored to Kingston’s heritage rich and detail oriented planning environment. Our expertise ensures your proposal is robust, policy aligned, and positioned for approval.
• Detailed Planning Drawings
We produce precise architectural drawings for extensions, loft conversions, internal alterations, and façade changes. Our designs respect Kingston’s character while maximising your space.
• 3D Laser Surveys & Modelling
Accurate measurement is essential in historic and riverside areas. Our 3D surveys capture every detail, enabling us to produce highly accurate plans and visualisations.
• Design & Access Statements
We prepare clear, persuasive statements that explain the design rationale, demonstrate policy compliance, and address Kingston’s key concerns.
• Heritage & Conservation Expertise
For properties in conservation areas or listed buildings, we prepare sensitive, policy compliant designs supported by heritage statements where necessary.
• Daylight/Sunlight Analysis
Where required, we arrange specialist assessments to support your application and address neighbour amenity considerations.
• Flood Risk & Environmental Documentation
For riverside or low lying properties, we coordinate flood risk assessments and resilient design measures.
• Planning Agent Representation
We manage the entire process — liaising with planning officers, responding to queries, and ensuring your application is complete and professionally presented.

Key Local Planning Considerations in Kingston

1. Conservation Areas
Proposals must preserve or enhance local character, affecting:
• Rooflines
• Windows and doors
• Materials
• Extensions
• Boundary treatments
2. Neighbour Amenity
Extensions must demonstrate minimal impact on:
• Daylight
• Sunlight
• Privacy
• Sense of enclosure
3. Loft Conversions & Roof Alterations
Dormers must be modest, well integrated, and subordinate to the main roof. Roof terraces are often restricted.
4. Flood Risk
Properties near the Thames or low lying areas may require flood risk assessments.
5. Outbuildings & Garden Structures
Outbuildings must remain subordinate and not dominate the garden.

Why Choose SMARTePLANS for Kingston Applications

SMARTePLANS has extensive experience working within Kingston’s planning framework. Our 99% approval rate reflects our commitment to policy led design, meticulous preparation, and proactive communication with planning officers.

Homeowners choose us because:

• We understand Kingston’s unique heritage and riverside constraints
• We produce high quality, policy aligned designs
• We manage the entire process from survey to submission
• We specialise in extensions, loft conversions, and conservation sensitive proposals
• We deliver fast turnaround times without compromising quality
Whether you’re planning an extension, loft conversion, internal reconfiguration, or a more complex redevelopment, we ensure your application is robust, compliant, and positioned for approval.

Start Your Kingston Planning Application Today

SMARTePLANS offers a free, no obligation quote and expert guidance tailored to your property. Our team handles everything — from surveys to submission — so you can move forward with confidence.